Officials attacked while stopping child marriages in Rajasthan

Kota: At least 12 government officials were injured after a group of villagers allegedly assaulted and pelted stones at them when they tried to stop them from carrying out child marriages in Rajasthan's Jhalawar district.

On a tip-off that about 42 couples -- most of them reportedly minors -- were being married off in a mass ceremony, a team of district administration and police officers rushed to Prithvepura village late on Friday, Rambharosi Meena, Station House Officer (SHO), Ghatolli police station, said.

When the officers demanded the birth certificates of the brides and grooms, the villagers, around 5,000 in number, allegedly assaulted and pelted stone at them, in which about 12 officials received severe injuries, he said.

The mob is reported to have chased the team for a kilometre and damaged the glasses of government vehicles.

"We have arrested 11 villagers and cases have been lodged against 24 identified and over 400 other unidentified villagers," the SHO said, adding, the arrested would be produced before the district magistrate.